Saturday's NCAAF Top 25 betting cheat sheet: Afternoon action

The task for host Florida is simple - knock No. 2 Florida State from the
ranks of the unbeaten Saturday in the annual Thanksgiving weekend
matchup between the rivals. Embattled Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston seemed no worse for wear in
throwing for 225 yards and four touchdowns as the Seminoles broke a
school record by scoring 80 points against Idaho. The freshman has thrown
for 3,163 yards and 32 touchdowns this season.

The Gators have won seven of the last nine meetings but come in off one
of the worst defeats in program history against FCS program Georgia
Southern. As if the losses were not enough, the Gators also will see a lot streaks
come to an end this season, including 22 straight years of playing in a
bowl game. The six-game losing streak is their longest in 34 years and
assures them of their first losing season since 1979.

LINE: Florida State is a 27.5-point fave after opening as low as -26. The total is steady at 44WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the low-70s with wind blowing across the field at 6 mph.TRENDS:

While quarterback Braxton Miller has generated a lot of the headlines
around Columbus, the Buckeyes' running game ranks first in the Big Ten
and fifth nationally with 314 yards per
game. Carlos Hyde (1,064 yards, 13 TDs) is the first running back ever
to rush for 1,000 yards under Meyer, while Miller is the school's
all-time leading rusher among quarterbacks with 2,724 yards.

Michigan has lost three of its last four contests, including a 24-21
defeat to Iowa last week in which Brady Hoke's team squandered a
14-point halftime lead. Still, the
Wolverines' head coach remains optimistic heading into their showdown
with the Buckeyes, saying earlier this week: "I am very confident that
we can win, or we wouldn't play." Michigan's defense has been inconsistent this season, but Blake Countess leads the conference with five interceptions.

LINE: Ohio State opened as a 12-point fave, but the line has been bet up to -16. The total is set at 58.WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the low-30s with wind blowing diagonally out of the SE at 7 mph.TRENDS:

The Golden Gophers managed only four yards rushing against the Spartans
last season, but David Cobb did not get a carry. The junior has emerged
in 2013 with 1,010 yards and seven of his team’s 23 touchdowns on the
ground, while quarterbacks Philip Nelson and Mitch Leidner have combined
for 13. Leidner has not played the past two weeks while Nelson has
thrown seven touchdown passes and no interceptions over the last five.

The Spartans, who play unbeaten Ohio State for the Big Ten title and a
Rose Bowl bid on Dec. 7 in Indianapolis, have shut out five of their
seven league opponents in the second half. Their offense has steadily
improved with Cook at the helm and three receivers – Bennie Fowler, Tony
Lippett and Macgarrett Kings Jr. – making at least 30 catches.

LINE: Michigan State is currently a 16-point fave, with the total steady at 41.WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the low-30s with wind blowing across the length of the field at 9 mph.TRENDS:

* Golden Gophers are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 November games.* Spartans are 4-0 ATS in their last four conference games.* Underdog is 10-2 ATS in the last 12 meetings.Duke Blue Devils at North Carolina Tar Heels (-6, 60.5)

Blue Devils quarterback Anthony Boone is clicking again again after
missing three games with a broken collarbone. He was
less-than-spectacular upon his return, putting Brandon Connette back in
the picture in a platoon role, but Boone took most of the snaps
Saturday, throwing for 256 yards and three touchdowns with no turnovers
or sacks.

North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron has pieced together a strong junior
season, leading the team with 50 catches for 774 yards and three
touchdowns. Things have gone so well for Ebron that he has decided to
enter the NFL Draft next year and forego his final year of eligibility.
His best game came against then-unbeaten Miami last month, when he
grabbed eight passes for 199 yards and a 71-yard touchdown in the 27-23
loss.

LINE: North Carolina opened -5.5 but is up to -6. The total is set at 60.5.WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the mid-40s with wind blowing diagonally out of the NE at 5 mph.TRENDS:

* Blue Devils are 6-0 ATS in their last six conference games.* Tar Heels are 6-0 ATS in their last six games on grass.* Home team is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings.Alabama Crimson Tide at Auburn Tigers (+10.5, 54.5)

The early-season concerns about the Crimson Tide's defense have proven
unfounded, as Alabama ranks third in the nation in total defense (263.9
yards per game) and leads the country at 9.3 points allowed per contest.
The offense is often downplayed, but quarterback A.J. McCarron is
enjoying another outstanding season, completing 68.6 percent of his
passes for 2,399 yards with 23 touchdowns and five interceptions.

The Tigers boast the top ground game in the SEC with Tre Mason (1,153
yards, 17 TDs) and quarterback Nick Marshall (823 yards, nine TDs)
leading the way, but they know they'll need to be more balanced against a
tough Alabama defense. Auburn can't afford a slow start that would
force it to the passing game, so the sometimes-suspect defense must slow
down the Crimson Tide early.

LINE: Alabama is holding as a 10.5-point fave, while the total is 54.5.WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the high-40s with wind blowing across the field at 8 mph.TRENDS:

* Crimson Tide are 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 November games.* Tigers are 6-0 ATS in their last six conference games.* Under is 5-0-1 in Auburn's last six games following a bye week.Baylor Bears at TCU Horned Frogs (+13, 64.5)

The Bears were hopeful leading rusher Lache Seastrunk would be ready to
return from a groin injury that kept him sidelined the previous week
against Texas Tech, but he was a no-go against Oklahoma State and the
running game suffered, totaling just 94 rushing yards. Making things
more difficult, third-leading rusher Glasco Martin has missed the last
two games with a leg injury.

B.J. Catalon is on pace to become the
first TCU player to lead the team in rushing in consecutive seasons
since Joseph Turner led the Horned Frogs in three straight years from
2007-09. He and sophomore Aaron Green figure to get even more carries
now that third-leading rusher Waymon James is no longer on the roster,
though coach Gary Patterson would not reveal why at his weekly press
conference Monday.

LINE: Baylor opened at -13 while the total is up a half-point to 64.5.WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the mid-50s with wind blowing out of the SW at 7 mph.TRENDS:

* Bears are 21-6 ATS in their last 27 games.* Horned Frogs are 8-0 ATS in their last eight games following a bye week.* Under is 9-2 in TCU's last 11 conference games. Penn State Nittany Lions at Wisconsin Badgers (-24.5, 49.5)

Zach Zwinak had 149 rushing yards in last Saturday’s 23-20 loss to
Nebraska and has put together three consecutive 100-yard outings to push
his season total to 874 yards. Freshman quarterback Christian
Hackenberg has fared well with 2,616 yards – fifth most in school
history – and has 16 touchdown passes against 10 interceptions.

A strong defense that ranks fifth in scoring defense (13.4) and sixth in
total defense (278.5) complements the rushing attack that is 34 yards
away from surpassing last season’s school record for rushing yards
(3,309). Star linebacker Chris Borland is eight tackles away from his
third consecutive 100-tackle campaign and ranks sixth in school history
with 400 stops while equaling the Big Ten record with 14 career forced
fumbles.

LINE: Wisconsin is a 24.5-point fave after opening at -23.5. The total is set at 49 1/2. WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the low-30s with wind blowing diagonally out of the SW at 7 mph.TRENDS:

* Nittany Lions are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games following a SU loss.* Badgers are 13-3-1 ATS in their last 17 games on fieldturf.* Favorite is 8-0 ATS in the last eight meetings.

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Ohio States line went up a little too much . Wolves beat themselves against a good Iowa team who we had yesterday . Mich at home should help if they can keep the turnovers down .Ohio state wins ,but not by more than 14
Like TCU to take advantage of being home against a good Baylor team that is looking past this week .TCU def. seems to wake up at home under 64.5 is the play here .
Like the under in Auburn . Both teams want to control the clock ,Auburn is looking to run their work horse and try to keep AJ off the field this fares well for under 55 here Good luck all happy holidays .

What you see is what you get each year from Pittsburgh, which builds through the draft, doesn’t sign a lot of free agents and basically comes at you. How much Ben Roethlisberger has left is a question asked every September given the number of hits he takes. The biggest change will be at defensive coordinator, where legend Dick Lebeau is gone – which may mean the LBs will be freer to attack the pocket.

The Vikes have Adrian Peterson back and things seem to have calmed down a bit in Minnesota. But then again, Mike Wallace has been on board for only a few months. Vikes are looking for a huge Year 2 improvement from Teddy Bridgewater and if they get it they can make things sticky in the North.

In 2014/15 the Steelers were 1-3 SU/ATS in the preseason and in 2013/14 they were 0-4 SU/ATS. After missing the playoffs in 2013/14, Pittsburgh returned last year only to lose 30-17 to the Ravens in the Wildcard round. Mike Tomlin has clearly not been very worried about winning in the preseason the last few years.

Last year the Vikes went 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS in the preseason, after going 1-3 SU/ATS in 2013/14 and 1-3 SU/ATS in 2012/13. For a team which is desperately trying to get back to the playoffs, the preseason suddenly becomes a lot more important.

There are many players on Minnesota which have something to prove, while Pittsburgh will surely be happy to just go through the motions and leave Canton without any significant injuries.

Minnesota would seem to be the more motivated team in this one, consider laying the short points.

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